IYD: We Trained 2,000 Youths For Digital Economy, Unveiled New Policy – Gombe Gov

The Gombe State Government says more than 2,000 young people have been trained and exposed to opportunities in technology and outsourcing as part of efforts to prepare youths for the growing digital economy. Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya disclosed this on Wednesday, in his message to mark the 2026 International Youth Day.

The message, contained in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ismaila Uba Misilli, noted that the state’s partnership with the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative (OTNI) has led to the establishment and support of a fully equipped digital skills acquisition centre where young people are being trained in skills relevant to the technology and outsourcing industries.

The initiative, he said, reflects the administration’s broader effort to equip young people with skills that can translate into economic opportunities beyond the traditional labour market.

“We do not see our young people merely as the leaders of tomorrow. We see them as partners in building Gombe today,” Yahaya said, stressing that young people must be given opportunities to “serve, lead, innovate and contribute to decisions” affecting the state’s future.

The governor’s emphasis on digital skills comes as unemployment, limited economic opportunities and the changing nature of work continue to challenge young Nigerians, particularly young people seeking alternatives to conventional public-sector employment.

For Gombe, the administration says digital skills and outsourcing could provide a pathway for young people to participate in an increasingly connected economy without necessarily having to leave the state in search of opportunities.

Yahaya urged young people to embrace technology, entrepreneurship, vocational skills and innovation, rather than waiting solely for government-created jobs.

This year’s program comes shortly after the State Executive Council approved the Gombe State Youth Policy, which the governor said would provide a broader framework for coordinating government interventions targeting young people, including education, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, employment, innovation, leadership development and participation in governance.

The policy, according to the governor, is intended to move youth development beyond isolated programmes and provide a more deliberate and sustainable approach to addressing the needs and aspirations of young people across the state.

He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening the state’s scholarship system, saying timely support for students in tertiary institutions remains important to developing an educated and skilled generation.

The governor described education as one of the most important investments government can make in young people and linked human-capital development to the state’s long-term economic and social development.

The theme of this year’s International Youth Day, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations”, was cited by the governor as a reflection of the shared desire among young people for opportunity, inclusion, dignity, skills, meaningful participation and the ability to turn ideas into positive change.